I don't think anything is happening and the only people "reporting" it are message board posters and one blogger who is referencing a friend who saw something reported on TV where he was the only apparent viewer (I mean if a media outlet reported it, you'd think it would have a wider audience than 1).

Nonetheless, the $50mm (while significant) is not prohibitive. If the conference you are moving to has a TV Deal $10-$15mm more than the ACC (which the B10 soon will) and if you are receiving twice the bowl revenues than the ACC (which the B10 does), the dispartity in revenues pays for the buy-out in about 3 years. The buyout makes it very difficult for a team to leave for the B12, but not so for the SEC or B10.

HJS wrote:I don't think anything is happening and the only people "reporting" it are message board posters and one blogger who is referencing a friend who saw something reported on TV where he was the only apparent viewer (I mean if a media outlet reported it, you'd think it would have a wider audience than 1).

Nonetheless, the $50mm (while significant) is not prohibitive. If the conference you are moving to has a TV Deal $10-$15mm more than the ACC (which the B10 soon will) and if you are receiving twice the bowl revenues than the ACC (which the B10 does), the dispartity in revenues pays for the buy-out in about 3 years. The buyout makes it very difficult for a team to leave for the B12, but not so for the SEC or B10.

So you're saying its not from Frank the Tank.

Wikipedia wrote:Spaziani is known as a wordsmith often answering interview questions with unintelligible murmurs or seemingly invented words. He has been honored by his peers as the most underqualified coach ever assigned to a head coaching role at a Division 1 school

assuming this happens and for the purpose of my point assuming the acc gets back to 14 and doesn't lose a big name (I am certainly concerned about this but again for purposes of the point assume it doesn't matter). Is this not a pretty hearty fuck you to Penn State? Adding two local schools both in prime PSU recruiting areas?

HJS's ex (I think he was the rebound after Gene) needs to see if there is any way they could bring PSU over in light of this and a number of other perceived slights at the hands of the B1G (i don't really understand it but their fans - I know not decision makers - at least have major issues with the old guard (UM and tOSU) and their dominance over the conference decision making much like FSU's issues with tobacco road. I know the money disparity is somewhat significant, but PSU might inspire ND, etc, or even on its own adding another team that fills its 100k person stadium on the regular would have a big impact on the ACC tv deal. I suspect the new BCS makes it more unlikely than it would be otherwise, but the conversation needs to be, and i'm assuming is being had. Again, I don't think this is likely to happen.

Short of the above, the ACC needs to backfill with Louisville and not UConn. They need to appease the football first schools and frankly if the FSU powers that be, not fans, hate Swofford (which is because he is a UNC alum and perceived tobacco road basketball first guy not because he is a bad negotiator) then he needs to go.

I'm giong to start all of this with the assumption that the academics either A: don't matter or B: are equal enough to not hold a ton of weight.

Isn't Louisville the choice instead of Yukon for both football and basketball reasons?

Obviously football is no contest in favor of Louisville. Yukon is on their own Spaz track only with a lower starting baseline. Basketball is a huge unknown with them right now with their players' inability to read and a new coach.

Sadly, the academics between UConn and Louisville aren't close. The only thing the ACC should do is negotiate ND to add 1 or 2 more games in return for a full share of the ACC. And let them keep a contract for their other games. UConn adds nothing. And, unlike Rutgers, are never a target for another conference (meaning they will always be there). BTW, if ND balks, ESPN might still pay the conference the same amount (like they did the B12), which means the 13 teams split the 20mm combined TV and Bowl revenue. That, combined with the exit fee, pretty much puts everyone close to the B12.

9903, of course football should end the discussion but just the basketball (and uncertainty surrounding Yukon) is another checkmark in the Louisville column

Not necessarily advocating for Cincy over Louisville, just questioning why it seems to be written in stone that Louisville is a better option (just because the B12 has been sniffing around them?). Cincy is probably a little better in football, a little worse in basketball, comparable/a little better academically (#139 in the USNWR rankings vs. #160 for Louisville), and delivers a bigger media market. Plus having an ACC team in arguably our most important recruiting market would be good for BC.

That said, the rumor during the last round of expansion was that the ACC didn't want to add anyone lower in the USNWR rankings than FSU (101) so if that's the case UConn would be the only viable option, unless ND comes in as a full member in which case you can think about making a run at PSU and/or Vandy.

So the Conference Reconfiguration Derby continues. Maryland and Rutgers are headed to the Big Ten, which moves them to 14 and puts the Big Ten television network in the heart of ACC and Big East country.The ACC must react to losing Maryland. Say hello to UConn, which is primed to move to the ACC if the call comes. And it very well might. Wonder what the people at BC think about that move.Wait there is more. Louisville might consider a move to the Big 12 if a call from Dallas is made. And don’t be surprised if Boise State also gets a call.

First off, I'd be surprised if the state of Maryland allows Md moving to happen. Secondly, at what point do the southern core of the ACC balk at adding another northern school, especially UConn, which is kind of a 'meh' choice.

Also, I discount mainstream news reports on this stuff on weekends -- do the people with real sources work on weekends?

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